Products imported to Moldova are dropping quality to boost quantity

Data concerning foreign trade for the first half of 2006 show the imports’ similar or even worse quality level, goods which are to a great extent destined to current consumption. Compared with the similar period of the last year, in the first semester of 2006, the import of agro-alimentary products increased by 17.06% and constituted USD 154.5 mln. The share of these imports increased from 13.03 in January-June 2005, to 13.29% in the same period of 2006. These evolutions show the incapacity of the national agricultural area and of the alimentary industry to satisfy the continuously increasing internal demand. Imports of beverages containing alcohol increased the most, vinegar and alcohol-free – by 56.55%. The imports of milk and dairy, bird eggs, natural honey and other animal food products increased by 48.81%; the import of tobacco and processed substitutes of tobacco – by 34.45%. In this context, independent experts say that the food industry and also the agricultural sector lost a significant share of the internal market. According to them, if the necessary measures of stimulating investments to develop food industry and increase concurrence will not be taken, this crisis could get worse. At the same time, the experts draw the attention upon the fact that agriculture practically lacks development tendencies and industry confronts with serous problems as regards the high production costs and production’s promotion incapacity.